Heating aid available for Pocono poor

'Tis the season for low-income residents to apply for help in paying high heating bills or fixing a broken furnace.

DAVID PIERCE

'Tis the season for low-income residents to apply for help in paying high heating bills or fixing a broken furnace.

The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides cash payments to help households cover high heating bills, along with emergency money to fix a broken furnace or replenish low fuel.

"We encourage them to apply early," said Anne Bale, a state Department of Public Welfare spokeswoman. "We can process their applications more quickly."

Many in need of heating help wait until the coldest months of January and February to apply, increasing the odds of processing delays.

Households earning a maximum of 150 percent of the poverty level are eligible to apply.

This includes a single person earning up to $16,755, a family of two earning no more than $22,695, a family of three with income up to $28,635 and a family of four earning up to $34,575.

Overall available money is comparable to levels a year ago, Bale said. The department expects additional LIHEAP money to be approved later this winter.

Last year, 1,421 Monroe County households and 1,242 Pike County households received LIHEAP help with heating bills.

Some 1,258 Monroe County households received "crisis" help for a heating emergency, compared to 378 Pike County households that got emergency funding.

The fastest and easiest way to apply is to go to Public Welfare's "Compass" website at www.humanservices.state.pa.us/compass.web, she said.

Paper applications also are available at county public assistance offices.